Egypt makes disrespecting the flag a crime

CAIRO: Egypt’s interim president has made it a crime to disrespect the national flag or fail to stand for the national anthem, state media said on Saturday. Authorities have moved to restrict protests and bolster their nationalist credentials since then-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi last year. Some Islamist protesters added slogans or symbols to flags during protests after Morsi’s overthrow.Insulting the flag would now carry a penalty of up to a year in prison or a fine of 30,000 Egyptian pounds ($4,200), under interim President Adly Mansour’s decree, the state news agency MENA reported, quoting his spokesman. The red, white and black Egyptian flag is ubiquitous in the capital Cairo, where vendors sell the emblem on street corners and drivers fly it out of car windows. It has become a common sight at demonstrations and celebrations since a 2011 uprising toppled President Hosni Mubarak - most recently as people celebrated Sisi’s victory in presidential elections this week.